A gambling charity’s recommendations to help betting addicts and a ‘casino’ sign clampdown have been included in Solihull Council’s draft gambling policy. As a licensing authority the council has to publish a ‘statement of principles’ on gambling – the framework dictating licensing and regulations for the next three years.
The law requires the authority to consult with police, people who represent the interests of gambling businesses and people who represent the interests of people affected by gambling in drawing up its policy. And over the last few months the authority’s consultation has been running getting the opinions on the authority’s draft policy.
One of the consultees was GamCare. In its response the charity wrote: “We welcome the position Solihull Council is taking to go beyond the mandatory and default conditions for the Gambling Act. We were pleased to see Solihull Council commit to a public health approach to gambling.
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Brumwish 2024 – buy a gift for a child in need
BrumWish 2024 is Birmingham Live’s festive drive to get thousands of gifts to children and young people across our city – among them the homeless, the vulnerable, kids in care, kids who are poorly or struggling, and kids who have little.
There are THREE simple ways to help.
- Buy a new gift from the Brumwish 2024 Amazon giftlist. In just a click your donation will be whizzing its way to our volunteers at Edgbaston Stadium.
- Donate money to the appeal fund hosted by Thrive Together Birmingham – this will help pay for gifts for kids with specialist needs or specific wishes.
- Buy a gift and, even better, rope in friends, neighbours and workmates to do the same, then drop off your pressies at Edgbaston Stadium, Edgbaston Road, B5 7QU on Friday 6th December, 10am – 3pm; Saturday 7th December, 10am – 1pm; or Monday 9th December, 10am – 1pm. Volunteers will be there to help you. Please don’t wrap your gifts. You can also drop off by arrangement until Monday 16th December – contact Louise on 07469 979286.
Thanks to our partnership with #Toys4Birmingham, every single gift will find a good home in the loving care of a child living in B&Bs or hotels, hostels or refuges, children receiving support from specialist organisations and charities, and families being supported by children’s centres and charities around the city.
Making up the Brumwish and Toys4Birmingham gang are Thrive Together Birmingham, Birmingham Playcare Network, Warwickshire Cricket Foundation (the charitable arm of Warwickshire County Cricket Club), Birmingham Forward Steps and BirminghamLive/Birmingham Mail.
Thank you to Amazon UK and the amazing team at the Sutton Coldfield depot for their support.
“This commitment should include training frontline and primary care staff to recognise the signs of gambling harm and develop referral pathways to the national gambling helpline or local treatment providers.” In a report to the council’s licensing committee it has now emerged officers have taken the comments on board and amended the policy.
A paragraph has been added to the policy which reads: “The licensing authority will work with partners to encourage and facilitate training for frontline and primary care staff to recognise the signs of gambling harm and develop referral pathways to the National Gambling Helpline or local treatment providers.” Gosschalks, representing the Betting and Gaming Council, also raised concerns that nationally an increasing number of premises are describing themselves on shopfronts and signs as a casino.
It was recommended it be made clear in Solihull Council’s policy that premises must not display signage suggesting a different premises licence to the one held. In response officers added to the policy a line: “Premises must not display any signage – on any part of the premises – that may suggest that the licence allows different activities to what it actually authorises, or that a different type of premises licence is in force.”
The draft of principles, including the amendments, is set to go before the next meeting of the licensing committee being held at the Civic Suite on Monday, December 2. The meeting, which starts at 6pm, is open to the public.
If approved the statement of principles will then go before the full council for a final decision.